Contrasting German-Greek politeness and the consequences

Abstract

The aim of this paper is twofold: (a) to compare Greek and German conversational styles, and (b) to discuss politeness not with respect to a single, face-threatening, act, but within the context of the speech event as a whole (here the telephone call), and point out some consequences for the Brown and Levinson (1978, 1987) theory. An analysis of telephone calls in Greece and Germany suggests that Greeks use phatic utterances almost twice as frequently as Germans on the telephone. Moreover, it is maintained that Greeks and Germans use phatic utterances in different ways. Phatic utterances in Greek telephone conversations seem to serve mainly the purpose of enhancing the relationship aspect of communication, regardless of possible face threats. On the other hand, Germans seem to use phatic utterances in order to reduce a face threat that is connected with the reason for calling, and not with the speech event of calling itself.